Rita Johnson (Williams)
Image: Sue-Ellen Mountney
FatherRichard Cornelius Williams b. 29 Apr 1871, d. 30 Mar 1932
MotherAnna Caroline Larsen b. 4 Nov 1871, d. 28 Sep 1954
Pedigree

Birth, Death, Marriage

Rita Williams was born on 24 January 1913 in Numurkah, Victoria.1,2,3,4,5 
She married Keith Rupert 'Sam' Johnson, son of Charles Henry Johnson and Annie Elizabeth Glover, on 9 November 1932 in Shepparton, Victoria.1,6,4,7,8 
She died on 19 August 1998 in Heathcote, Victoria, at age 85.9,4 

Family

Keith Rupert 'Sam' Johnson b. 22 May 1909, d. 15 Apr 1978
Children
ChartsLarsen, Laust, descendant chart
Williams, John, descendant chart

Story

Rita Williams was born In Numurkah on 24 January 1913. She was the 7th and youngest child of Anna and Richard. She shared a birthday with her sister Thelma.

Rita writes:
While my Mum & Dad were driving home from the hospital with me in a jinker, or kind of buggy which was the only way of travelling those days as there were no cars or not many, my Mum said to Dad 'What are we going to call the baby?' She said 'How about Margaretta?', which was my grandmother's name, and Dad said 'No, we will just call her Rita'.

A few months later we moved over to a big farm at 'Marion Vale' which was always said by my Dad that they carried me over there in a suit case.4,10,3

Rita Williams, c. 1914
Image: Sue-Ellen Mountney
Unknown (left), possibly Thelma or May Williams (middle), Rita Williams (right), c. 1916
Image: Sue-Ellen Mountney
Williams Family: Back: May, Freda, Richard, Anna, Roy, Thelma, Lila; Front: Rita & Frank, probably Marionvale, c. 1916
Image: Sue Mountney
Marionvale State School
Most of the Williams children went to Marionvale state school at some stage. Only eldest Roy might have left school before the family moved to Marionvale.11
Marionvale State school no. 2515 was a weatherboard one room school situated on Jubilee Road, Parish of Congupna; it opened Jun 1882
Image: Katandra & District History Group
A 1917 article describes a successful fete in which the Williams family was well represented. Thirteen year old Thelma and 14 yo May had a total of thirteen placements in the events. Events included the Girls' potato race (May 1st, Thelma 3rd), Small boys' race, no. 2 (6 yo Frank 1st), Girls' Siamese race (May and partner 1st, Thelma and partner 2nd), Small girls' race, no. 2 (4 yo Rita 1st), Girls' egg and spoon race (Thelma 1st, May 3rd), Small boys' race no. 3 (Frank 2nd), Skipping (May 1st, Thelma 2nd), Girls' foot race (Thelma 1st), Small boys' race (Frank 3rd), Needle race (Thelma and partner 1st, May and partner 2nd), and Girls' foot race, no. 2 (May 2nd, Thelma 3rd).

The children's favourite Rooster race was won by sixteen year old Lila; here's the newspaper description:
The principal item of the day, from the children's point of view, then took place, viz., the picnic, when racing, skipping, and other games were indulged in, including a single young ladies race after a live rooster. This event caused a great amount of merriment. 10 ladies started, the winner being Miss Lila Williams, the prize being the rooster himself (minus a few feathers obtained by several competitors in their desperate attempt to capture the prize).

The parents took part too with their forty-six year old father Richard claiming the Married gent's race:
Mr R Williams proved the best in the old buffers' race.


Richard also did well the following Friday night at a euchre party and dance fundraiser for the British Red Cross funds when he was the gents winner. At the same event, a cake given and raffled by 17 year old Freda raised 18 shillings (equivalent to about $85 a century later).11
 
Frank and Rita were quite close. Frank was seven years younger than next eldest May, and Rita was only two years younger than Frank. They went to school together on their pony 'Midget', and they played together. Rita said they used to go everywhere together and that 'he was my brother and friend until the day he died'.10
 
Rita attended Sunday school at St Alban's in Mooroopna. Through this, she was a member of the Young Australia Temperance League.
Image: Sue-Ellen Mountney
Shop Assistant
Rita worked as a shop assistant in the drapery department of Stevens Bros in Mooroopna from 1928 to 1932. Her employer wrote her a glowing reference.12
Work reference for Rita Johnson from Stevens Brothers, Mooroopna, May 1939
Image: Sue-Ellen Mountney
Rita and Sam Meet
Rita was bridesmaid for the wedding of her sister Thelma in March 1931. On the night of the wedding, Rita, still in her bridesmaid dress, met Sam at the Blue Moon Dance in Shepparton.13
Rita Williams & Thelma (Williams) Jamieson, Mar 1931
Image: Sue-Ellen Mountney
Rita Williams, at picnic with Johnson family, two weeks after meeting Keith 'Sam' Johnson, c. 1931
Image: Sue Mountney
Marriage and Family
Rita Williams and Keith Rupert 'Sam' Johnson were married at St Augustine's church in Shepparton on 9 November 1932. They had five children.

As Rita was aged 19, the marriage registration was 'with the written consent of Anna Williams, mother of the bride'. Her father Richard died earlier that year.4,6,7,8

Sam & Rita (Williams) Johnson
Image: Val Williams
Carmel, Rita (Williams), Sandra, Sam (Keith) & Darrell Johnson, c. 1941
Image: Sue-Ellen Mountney
Darrell, Sandra, Pat, Rita, Wayne & Carmel Johnson
Image: Sue-Ellen Mountney
Sam & Rita Johnson (Williams) and grandchildren, c. 1970
Image: Sue-Ellen Mountney
Anna Caroline Williams died of acute pulmonary oedema at Sorrento private hospital in Oakleigh on 28 September 1954, aged 82. She had been ill for at least the previous twelve months with congestive heart failure and arteriosclerosis. She was buried at Mooroopna cemetery on 29 September 1954.14
Mooroopna cemetery
Image: BillionGraves
Mother's Death 
Anna made a will on 9 October 1946. To daughter Rita she leaves £100 and a presentation teapot of Richard's. To daughter-in-law Annie Williams she leaves £20. To son Frank she leaves the Echuca Rd house and property. An advance of £50 to daughter Lila is deemed paid. The balance of the estate is to be distributed to the five daughters.15
 
Back to Mooroopna
The 'Back to Mooroopna' celebrations were a great opportunity for ex-Mooroopna people to catch up with those who stayed, and the Easter 1963 'Back to' was very popular with the O'Connell, Williams and related families.
'Back to Mooroopna' celebrations, Apr 1963
Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips
'Back to Mooroopna' celebrations, Apr 1963
Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips
Bob Bazley, Annie Williams (O'Connell), Thelma Johnson (Williams), Myra O'Connell (Tatlow), Mag O'Connell (Noonan), Nell Bazley (O'Connell), Bill Hehir, Mick O'Connell, Rita Johnson (Williams), 'Back to Mooroopna', 97 Main St, Apr 1963
Image: Val Williams
Nell Bazley (O'Connell), Karen & Peter Phillips, 'Back To Mooroopna', Main St, Mooroopna, Apr 1963
Image: Val Williams
Bill Hehir, Annie Williams (O'Connell), Rita Johnson (Williams, front), Mag O'Connell (Noonan, standing), Thelma Jamieson (Williams, seated), Mick O'Connell (standing), Myra O'Connell (Tatlow, seated), Nell (O'Connell) & Bob Bazley (front), 'Back To Mooroopna', 97 Main St, Apr 1963
Image: Val Williams
Standing: Bill Hehir, Annie Williams (O'Connell), Mag O'Connell, Mick O'Connell; Seated: Karen & Peter Phillips, Rita Johnson (Williams), Thelma Jamieson (Williams, on chair), Nell Bazley (O'Connell, front), Myra O'Connell (Tatlow), Bob Bazley (front); 'Back to Mooroopna', Main St, Mooroopna, Apr 1963
Image: Val Williams
Rita Johnson died in Heathcote on 19 August 1998, aged 85. She was buried at Fawkner cemetery on 21 August.4,9
 

Citations

  1. [S290] Outline Descendant Report for Laust Larsen, descendent report, unpublished, 15 March 2010.
  2. [S21] Lorraine Phillips, personal communication, December 2001.
  3. [S270] Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, registry and index, Rita Williams entry, birth registration no. 6453, 1913.
  4. [S554] Family Group Record for Keith Rupert (Sam) Johnson, family group sheet, 2019.
  5. [S297] Williams-Howard family tree, computer file, March 2000.
  6. [S270] Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, registry and index, Keith Rupert Johnson and Rita Williams entry, marriage registration no. 9235, 1932.
  7. [S553] Sue-Ellen Mountney, personal communication, 7 November 2019.
  8. [S558] Keith Rupert Johnson and Rita Williams, marriage registration no. 9235, 9 November 1932.
  9. [S271] 'Tributes', Herald Sun, 1990-, newspaper, Herald & Weekly Times, 20 August 1998, copy in possession of Lorraine Phillips.
  10. [S555] Memories of Rita Johnson, letter, 1987.
  11. [S260] 'Marionvale', Goulburn Valley Stock and Property Journal, 1910-1963, newspaper, Horan & Simpson, 11 July 1917, p. 3, viewed 6 December 2017, http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/219831427
  12. [S275] Stevens Bros, Mooroopna, letter, 24 May 1939, to Rita Johnson, work reference.
  13. [S553] Sue-Ellen Mountney, personal communication, 3 November 2019.
  14. [S407] Anna Caroline Williams, death registration no. 11216, 28 September 1954.
  15. [S493] 'Anna Caroline Williams', VPRS 7591 Wills, 484/687, will, 9 October 1946.